EarthBound Beginnings (Japanese: MOTHER) is a classic RPG created by renowned Japanese copywriter Shigesato Itoi and published by Nintendo. First launched in 1989 for Japan’s Famicom (NES), it follows a young boy named Ninten as he befriends allies and fights alien invaders across a quirky modern-day US setting. Unlike traditional fantasy RPGs, its enemies are everyday objects/creatures, and weapons include baseball bats and yo-yos. Its North American release was initially canceled, but it finally launched officially for Wii U Virtual Console in 2015. Praised for its unique modern setting and humor, it redefined the RPG genre and pioneered a new era for role-playing games.